CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS OF PROCAINE AND LIDOCAINE (XYLOCAINE®) DURING GENERAL ANESTHESIA

Abstract

SUMMARY The cardiovascular effects of intravenous procaine and lidocaine were compared in two series of patients under nitrous‐oxide‐thiobarbiturate anesthesia. The arterial blood pressure and electrocardiogram of these patients were continuously monitored while standarized doses of 2.2 mg/kg and 1.1 mg/kg of the test drug were administered. It was found that procaine administration was followed by cardiovascular depression in 50 % of the doses administered, while a blood pressure increase was noted following 47 % of the lidocaine injections. The lack of vasomotor depression with the administration of lidocaine is advantageous when this agent is used to supplement general anesthesia.